Ready or not, here we go

Though I officially started work on Aug 8, this past week was the first time I had a full 5 day work week. Monday and Wednesday I had time to get a handle on the students on my list -- or at least try to. Tuesday was another day of training for working with those in the birth to 3 age range. I won't be starting that right away, but still needed the training. And Thursday school started. I didn't really know what I was doing (and still don't) but I had been to observe and get to know the teachers and the students. It's been a long time since I've spent much time in an elementary school and here's some of the things I observed.

• Kids who were yawning and saying they were hungry at 10. They are still adjusting to the school schedule.
• Teachers who appeared to spend most of the first two days setting the tone for the year and who was in charge in the classroom. It takes a bit, but the students seemed to be slowly catching on from kindergarten to 5th grade.
• A few kids wandering the halls unsure of where the bathroom was or how to get back to their room. (I felt for them because I was in the same boat and had to ask for assistance a few times.)
• A kindergartener who sat with tears in her eyes throughout the whole time I was in her room.
• A few boys doing stellar work to include the one quiet girl in their group project.
• Teachers who knew what their daily schedule was for next week and others who knew what the plan was for today and a general idea of what is to come.
• Secretaries know everything. Really they do. They gave me teachers for everyone on my roster, directions, and opened the locked office for me. To top it off they all appeared calm in the midst of the controlled chaos.
• In a crowded classroom, an experienced teacher put the well-behaved kids in the middle and the ones with the most wiggles around the edge. 
• Teachers who addressed issues quietly and without the rest of the class being aware that there even had been an "issue." 
• By the end of day 2 I had a better idea of what questions to ask so I can nail down a schedule.

I may not know what I'm doing but I've been told that is OK and even to be expected. I'm grateful for my mentor and other fellow OTs that I see back at the office who answer my questions and assure me it will get better, even if it does take a few years.